2017 Ford Fiesta Hatchback Automatic

This party may be winding down.

TONY MARKOVICH

Oct 31, 2017

What It Is: Globally, the Ford Fiesta is one of the brand’s most successful nameplates. It debuted in 1976 and quickly became a staple of the subcompact segment, at least outside the United States. Although the Fiesta has been sold continuously for more than 40 years overseas, it has spent much less time in America. It first made the scene in the States for a brief time in the late 1970s and only recently returned in its sixth generation for the 2011 model year. In both instances, the car exceeded expectations and further proved that a small, inexpensive car could also be fun. But tiny yet practical vehicles have never been highly desired in America, and Ford has sold only 36,139 Fiestas in the U.S. through the first nine months of this year, compared with 123,827 Focuses.

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Because of this and the low profit margins on such vehicles, the model’s future in America is in doubt. Ford of Europe already has unveiled a redesigned, seventh-generation Fiesta as a 2018 model. But in the States, the 2018 Fiesta is a carryover of the current, sixth-gen car. Ford has said that the next iteration of the high-performance Fiesta ST will not be sold here, and there’s a good chance the whole line eventually will be dropped.

Why We Tested It and How It Performed: With all this uncertainty, we wanted to see if the version being sold here still is competitive or if it’s getting lapped by new competitors. For this test, we had a 2017 Fiesta hatchback in the top-level Titanium trim with the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter inline-four and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car wore a sticker price of $20,620, and the only upcharge was $795 for the Sony audio system and 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with voice commands and navigation. For reference, a basic Fiesta hatch can be had for less than 15 grand, and Ford also offers the car as a sedan for roughly the same money.

The standard Fiesta is not impressive on paper, but the goodness of its chassis and steering makes up for its perceived deficiencies elsewhere. Ford has dropped the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine from the lineup for 2018, so the only engine offered for non-ST Fiestas is the 1.6-liter. It fails to excite, especially when paired with the dual-clutch automatic (standard on the Titanium) rather than the five-speed manual that’s available on lower trim levels. Packing 120 horsepower at 6350 rpm and 112 lb-ft of torque at 5000, our test car hit 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 17.1 seconds at 81 mph. The Fiesta stopped from 70 mph in 175 feet and managed 0.83 g on the skidpad on Hankook Optimo H426 all-season rubber.

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Although this segment isn’t known for its performance chops and has traditionally lethargic participants, the Fiesta is falling behind. The recently redone Kia Rio is a surprisingly pleasant overall package and offers more pep. It speed-walked to 60 in 8.5 seconds and passed the quarter-mile mark in 16.7 seconds. Its grip was not as good, however—it managed only 0.79 g on the skidpad and required 182 feet to stop from 70 mph. The manual version of the refreshed 2018 Fit was even quicker, with a zero-to-60-mph time of 8.2 seconds. It provided a solid combo of grip and braking as well, halting in 179 feet and hitting 0.81 g.

What We Like: Acceleration is not what defines the Fiesta—although the 197-hp ST is about two seconds quicker to 60 and significantly more entertaining. What makes this car worth talking about is its solid road presence. It’s spunky yet refined for a small economy car. Like most such cars, it can be unsettled at high speeds or on severely bumpy roads, but it’s quite fun to hustle around town. The steering has nice weight and crisp responses, and the cornering performance encourages playfulness with secure body control.

What We Don’t Like: The Fiesta’s age is reflected particularly in the cabin. Hands, arms, and elbows are met with hard and oddly textured plastic, and quality can be an issue. The seat-adjustment handle literally broke off in our hand when we tried to lower the seating position. Inconsistent panel gaps and trim alignment clearly remind buyers they’re in an economy car, the center-stack design is busy, and the seats are stiff. Granted, cheap subcompacts aren’t expected to have glamorous interiors, but cars such as the new Rio raise the bar for this field, and its cabin makes the Fiesta’s finishes look and feel that much worse. Moreover, passenger space is among the worst in this class, a significant point in a segment where every inch counts.

Verdict: The Fiesta still offers some fun, but this party is winding down.